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BAE transforms for FRES
Wednesday, 12 September, 2007
Although BAE Systems Land Systems does not have a vehicle in the ‘Trials of Truth’ rapidly nearing completion at Bovington Camp in southern England, it is positioning itself to be the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) Utility Vehicle (UV) integrator.
As it is chassis-neutral, it believes it is well placed to win this key part of the FRES programme, as well as supplying the follow-on vehicles including Group 2 (reconnaissance), Group 3 (medium), Group 4 (manoeuvre support) and the recently added basic utility, which in cost terms will account for well over 50 per cent of the value of the FRES programme.
It has already invested some GBP45m in new facilities in the UK and expects to invest at least another GBP15m. Increasingly the company is taking a capability-based approach and accelerating its transformation towards a high-performing complex systems integrator. To maintain its position, BAE Systems Land Systems must win the competition to be the UV integrator and manufacturer. It is, however, possible that in the end it may have to team with other contractors. BAE Systems Land Systems has built more than 95 per cent of the current UK vehicle fleet and is providing through-life support on an increasing number of these. It has already signed an AFV partnering agreement with the UK MoD, which is expected to offer significant advantages and is running a number of successful vehicle upgrades, with Warrior and Challenger 2 expected to come on stream soon. It is also heavily involved in the design, development, production and integration of a number of vehicle upgrades to meet urgent operational requirements, with almost 100 already fielded.